Rotary engine



July 29, 1941; 5.0. JIUTTING 3 5 ROTARY ENGINE Filed March 2, 1959 ssh 'et -shee t 1 Q B I g OR. Mu MR m July 29, 1941. B. G. JUTTIN ROTARY ENGINE' Filed March 2, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 2 VINVENTOR.

WM I ATTQRNEY.

July 29, 1941, JUTTING I 2,250,484

ROTARY ENGINE Filed March 2. 1939 a Sheets-Sheet s WWW I a gag-0" ATTORNEY.

Y INVENTOR.

?atented Juiy.29,'194 1 UNITED STATES PATENT-@foFFm, 2,250,434 I x Bernhard G. JuttinmNew Brunswick, NJ. '7 Application March 2, 1939, Serial No. 259,330

. 3 Claim.

This invention relates torotary internal combustion engines of the Diesel type.

It is an object of the invention to provide a thin, compact, simple, eflicient, and durable rotary engine-of low manufacturing cost that develops a high rate of horse power in proportion to its size.

A feature of the invention is a rotary engine with a small number of spring-operated valves, especially in the operative parts of the rotary engine, thereby enhancing the durability of .the engine by eliminating springs.

A feature of the invention is the provision of v a circumferential chamber which is divided by parts of the rotor into a plurality of equidistant expansion chambers whose position is changed continuously by the rotation cfthe rotor, which rotation in one embodiment of the invention is clockwise. The invention is also applicable to an enginethat rotates counterclockwise.

A feature of the invention is the provision of precombustion chambers in the fixed casing that have lever valves pivoted to swing under the explosion pressure into the expansion chambers and to close'said chambers at the rear in order to direct expansion pressure against projections on the rotor, which close the forward ends of the chambers. Camming surfaces on the front side of each projection close the lever valves and the precombustion chambers prior to the injection thereinto of fuel and compressed air. fuel at one end of each precombustion chamber from a standard fuel or Diesel oil pressure pump, and compressed air at the opposite end through pressure valves in the conduit from piston pumps, the pistons of which are reciprocated by cams mounted on the engine shaft. The rear walls of the projections are walls curved by a radius larger than that of the valves so that knocking of the engine at these points is eliminated. The pressure valves open at specific pressures related to the piston operation. on relatively low-pressure engines spark plugs are used to ignite the mixtures in the precombustion chambers synchronously with the-"release of the pivoted valves bythe projections on the rotor. Glow plugs may be" used where required. Exhaust ports connect with the top of the expansion chambers synchronously with the opening of the succeeding expansion chambers and the rotating projections on the rotor scavenge the combustion gasesahead of them therethru. A suitable exhaust manifold may connect the exhaust ports. The interior of the rotor is open for air circulation and the easing is provided with a water-circulatory system.

Spring-pressed sealing gaskets compensatejfor minute variations in the position of the proie'c I t tions on the rotor with referenceto the inner cylindrical wall of the fixed casing which also forms the outer wall of the expansion chambers.

Lubrication of the engine valves between the precombustion and expansion chambers is provided by the. fuel oil itself? The explosion in all the precombustion chambers is simultaneous. The hinges of the valves into the expansion chambers are so constructed that the cylindrical recess" that receives the pivoted edge of the hinge is the pivotal bearing for the partially cylindrical edge of the hinge. Access to the engine is had thru side plates secured to the casing by screws. The

perfectly balanced for efiicient operation in any position thereof, horizontal, vertical, or oblique.

Reference is made to'the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention in which,

Figure 1 is a central section taken on the line l--I of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a front view partially in section.

Figure 4 is a top view.

Figure 5 is a rear view.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 2 looking, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a section through the air ports into the precombustion chambers.

Figure 8 is a similar view enlarged.

Figure 9.,is a section taken on. the line 9-.9 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.,

A rotor Ill is cylindrical in form and is secured to rotate on a power shaft II by means of a key i2. Spokes I3 connect the hub and the periphery of the rotor l0 and provide air spaces I4 for the circulation of air inside the rotor and at their extremities the spokes l3 mount a cylindrical peripheral wall IS on which are equidistant similar convex transverse projections. it, which extend outwardly radially and have on the left side, as viewed in Figure l, a convexly curved wall ll provided at its base with a concavely curved wall A cylindrical casing 2| is "suitably mounted where desired in a horizontal, a vertical, or any other position. This casing. 2| is relatively thin and compact. A plate 22 is fixed on the back of the casing 2| by screws 20 or any other suitable fastening means, and a plate 23 is fixed on the front side of the casing 2| by screws 20, or any other suitable fastening means. The plates 22 and 23 sealingly engage the sides of the peripheral wall l of the rotor ill. Plate 22 has a central aperture 24 and plate 23 has a central aperture 25, which together form a cylindrical bearing in which the shaft II is rotatable. The casing 2| has an inner cylindrical wall 26 which is spaced from the outer peripheral wall I5 of the rotor I0, which provides an arcuate space between adjacent projections it, which are equally spaced around the rotor in so that the spaces between the walls 26 and I5 are equal in number and size to provide expansion chambers 21 whose positions around the circumference vary continuously with the rotation of the rotor ID. A slot 28 in each projection l8 mounts a sealing bar 29 which is slidable radially in the slot to engage the wall 26 and which extends transversely across the expansion chamber 21. A curved fiat spring 3| is mounted in the bottom of each slot and holds the sealing bar 29 in springpressed contact with the inner cylindrical wall 26 of the casing 2|.

Precombustion chambers 35, four in number, one corresponding to each projection l6, are spaced equidistantly in the casing 2| and extend transversely thereof and each chamber 35 opens through a transverse slot or port 36 into the adjoining expansion chamber 21 in a direction op posite tothe direction 0 rotation of the rotor i0. Lever valves 31 have their upper edges partially cylindrical in form and are mounted in transverse cylindrical recesses 38 that form hearings in which they turn pivotally from the outer position in which they close the apertures 36 into the expansion chambers 27 to the inner position in which they close the expansion chambers 21 at the rear or opposite end to the direction of rotation. The bottom of each lever valve 31 engages the bottom of each expansion chamber 21 to prevent the passage of air or gas to the rear and therefore directs expansion forward against the wall ll of the adjacent protuberance I6. The spark plugs 4| are inserted on the outside of the casing 2| .and project into the central portion of each precombustion chamber 35. Ports 42 formed in' the plate 22 at the ends of each precombustion chamber-35 connect with a standard Diesel fuel pump, which is not shown. As viewed in Figure 1, exhaust ports 44 are mounted to the left of the valves 31 in the casing 2| and connect with ports 45 in the wall 22 of the casing, which in turn connect with any suitable exhaust manifold, which is not shown. Spaces 46 formed within the casing 2| are'interconnected circumferentially and provide for a water cooling lacket, which may be connected up in. any known way. Ports II in the plate 22 connect with the ends of the precombustion chambers 35 opposite to the fuel ports 42 and in each port 5| is mounted a spring pressure valve l2 seated on the inner end of the port and which permits the entrance of compressed air into the chambers 25, from the piston chambers I3, at a predetermined pressure.

Referring to Figures 8, 7 and 8, small spiders N in the ports II slidably support the shafts 55 Y of the valves 32, and coil springs 83, mounted between the heads of the shafts II' and the spiders 54, resiliently hold the valves 62 on their seats. Cylindrical pistons 51 are reciprocable radially in the chambers 63 and as each piston 51 is moved inwardly atmospheric air is sucked in through a spring valve 58 which is mounted on the outer radial wall of each chamber 53. Radially disposed and perpendicularly projecting arms 6| are mounted centrally of the plate 23 and are apertured at the outer ends in line with the piston shafts 32 to support them as they are radially reciprocated. Rollers G3 are mounted on pins extending at right angles from the inside of each piston shaft 32 and run in a track 34 which is formed by oppositely disposed camming walls 65 and 68 projecting outwardly on a piece 61 which is mounted to turn with the shaft II. It is obvious that as the track 84 rotates the piston shafts 62 are moved outwardly and inwardly.

Mode of operation.--While the valves 31 are closed the precombustion chambers 35 are charged with fuel and compressed air under pressure, but concurrently with the release of the valves, or their clearance by projections IS, the sparks ignite the compressed fuel-air mixture, the valves 3! swing open under pressure into and to close the expansion chambers 21 to the rear and the explosive mixtures exert pressure on the walls ll of the projections I! to cause the rotor I0 and the power shaft ii to turn clockwise in the embodiment shown in the drawings. Expansion of the gases continues in the chambers 27 until the projections it have passed and have opened the exhaust ports 44 and the next succeeding projections, i8 by means of their walls is engage the valves 37 to cam them into closed position.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, and realizing that many changes will readily occur in details of construction to mechanics skilled in the art in view of my disclosure, I do not limit myself except as in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An engine of the fuel oil type comprising a cylindrical casing; a plurality of equally spaced precombustion chambers formed in said casing; a central bearing in the casing; a shaft rotatingiy mounted in said bearing; a rotor keyed to the shaft; a plurality of expansion chambers formed in the exterior ofthe rotor and adjacent to the inner wall of the casing; ports leading from the precombustion chambers to the expansion chambers, said ports being smaller in cross-section than the precombustion chambers to properly mix the compressed fuel and air for combustion; hinged valves in said ports; exhaust ports leading from the expansion chambers; the periphery of the rotor being formed with equidistant protuberances having on opposite sides camming surfaces; the valves for closing the ports from the precombustion chambers to the expansion chambers being so mounted that they are closed by the protuberances, fuel-oil inlets in said precombustion chambers, air inlets in said precom; bustion chambers, valves in said air inlets, compression chambers connecting wit said air inlets, pistons reciprocable in sai compression chambers to compress the air therein, and air inlets into said compression chambers having valves therein operative when the plstons'are retracted.

2. An engine of the fuel oil type comprising a cylindrical casing; a plurality of equally spaced precombustion chambers formed in said casing; a central bearing in the casing; a shaft rotatingly mounted in said bearing; a rotor keyed to the shaft; a. plurality of expansion chambers formed in the exterior of the rotor and adjacent to the inner wall of the casing; ports leading from the precombustion chambers to the ex pansion chambers; valves in said ports hinged on the side of said ports opposite to the direction of rotation; exhaust ports leading from the expansion chambers; the periphery of the rotor being formed with equidistant protuberances having on opposite sides camming surfaces; the valves for closing the ports from the precombustion chambers to the expansion chambers bein so mounted that they are closed by camming surfaces on the protuberances, the opposite cammin surfaces tending to check the opening of the valves and being defined by a section of a cylindcr whose radius is longer than the length of the valves so that knocking of the engine at this a central bearing in the casing; a shaft rotatingly mounted in said bearing; a rotor keyed to the shaft; a plurality of expansion chambers formed in the exterior of the rotor and adjacent to the inner wall of the casing; ports leading from the bers being so mounted that they are closed by camming surfaces on the protuberances, the opposite camming surfacestending to check the opening of the valves and being defined by a section of a cylinder whose radius is longer than the length of the valves and an oppositelycurved wall between each of said opposite camming surfaces and the normal circumference of the rotor which is also asection of a cylinder whose radius is greater than the length of the valves whereby knocking of the valves is eliminated, fuel-oil inlets in said precombustion chambers, air inlets in said precombustion chambers, valves in said air inlets, compression chambers connecting with said air inlets, pistons reciprocable'in said compression chambers to compress the air therein,

and air inlets into said compression chambers having valves therein operative when the pistons are retracted. I

BERNHARD G. JUTTlNG. 

